Campaign Ads Attack GOP Candidates for Oil Industry Ties

[babsbunny]

http://www.truthout.org/article/campaign-ads-attack-gop-candidates-oil-industry-ties


Tuesday 29 July 2008


by: Richard Simon, The Los Angeles Times

Republican candidates worry about their ties to the oil and gas industry being a problem in their campaigns for election.

With consumers fuming about high gas prices, political strategists see connections to oil firms as an added liability - and Democrats are taking aim.

Washington - As voters steam over gas prices, Republican congressional candidates are bracing for a gusher of ads from now until election day attacking their ties to oil companies.

"What kind of mark has Bob Schaffer made as a politician?" says an ad attacking Colorado's Republican Senate candidate and former congressman. "He's left a definite imprint, accepting over $150,000 in campaign contributions from oil and gas interests and voting in Congress to give oil and gas interests over $13 billion in tax breaks."

Amid the onslaught, the oil industry is increasingly worried about this year's election. Oil executives could face a bigger Democratic majority in Congress and a Democrat in the White House, both set on repealing industry tax breaks and imposing a windfall profits tax.